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Series Preview: Rays at Red Sox

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - AUGUST 12: Mascot DJ Kitty of the Tampa Bay Rays waves a flag after defeating the Cleveland Guardians at Tropicana Field on August 12, 2023 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) | Getty Images

This is what everyone expected at the start of the season. Solid pitching. Good defense. Runs on offense. The Sox head home after their first sweep of 2026, taking all three games from the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers are now under .500 at 18-20, barely better than the disaster of a start 16-21 Red Sox.

Now they welcome in the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays, sellers in the offseason, once again are finding ways to win. Shockingly at 24-12, they join the Yankees as the only AL teams over .500. And the Yankees lost (they’re still 25-12) putting the Sox, uh, 9.0 games back in the AL East and 1.5 in the Wild Card.

Thursday night, the Rays are starting Griffin Jax. Acquired from the Minnesota Twins, Jax has been a reliever but the Rays are converting him to the rotation. He’s made 2 “starts” on the season – 2.1 innings and 2.2 innings – against the Twins and Giants, respectively. He didn’t allow a run either time and struck out 4 against 2 walks. Tampa is trying to build up his arm strength and stretch him out in the majors, so don’t expect a long outing this series. He’ll be opposed by Jake Bennett making his second career major league start. His first outing was a 5-inning, 5-hit, 1-run, 2-walk, 3-strikeout performance against the Houston Astros.

Tampa doesn’t have any other starters listed as of yet. FanGraphs suggests Mason Englert, Nick Martinez, and Drew Rasmussen could be the probables. Englert is a reliever and would presumably be the opener. He’s currently on the IL so they’ve have to make a move. He hasn’t pitched since April 19 and had a 7.11 ERA when he went down. Connelly Early will look to bounce back from an off day last time out against Englert or whoever opens and bulk relieves.

The Rays picked up Nick Martinez for a year this winter and he’s been great. 1.71 ERA / 3.45 FIP over 42 innings. Only 28 Ks but also just 10 walks. So it’s a mixed bag.

Drew Rasmussen is a starting pitcher, another righty (they all are) which helps with all the lefty bats the Sox have on hand. Rasmussen doesn’t tend to go more than about 90 pitches, which can get him through 6.0 innings. A 2.95 ERA / 3.74 FIP an about a strikeout per inning? He could be a tough customer. He has issued just 6 walks on his 36.2 innings this year – as many walks as home runs allowed.

Junior Caminero has 9 homers and Jonathan Aranda 7 to lead the team.

Chandler Simpson has 12 steals already but also has been caught 4 times.

Yandy Diaz is getting on base at a .406 clip.

Boston is still waiting for news on Ranger Suárez to plan out the rest of the weekend.

Probable Pitching Matchups

Thursday, May 7: Griffin Jax (5.14 ERA / 5.86 FIP) vs Jake Bennett (1.80 ERA / 5.74 FIP)

Friday, May 8: TBD (— ERA / — FIP) vs. Connelly Early (3.79 ERA / — FIP)

Saturday, May 9: TBD (— ERA / — FIP) vs. TBD (— ERA /— FIP)

Sunday, May 10: TBD (— ERA / — FIP) vs. TBD (— ERA /— FIP)

When/Where to Watch

Thursday, May 7: 7:10 PM ET on ESPN

Friday, May 8: 7:10 PM ET on NESN

Saturday, May 9: 4:10 PM ET on NESN

Sunday, May 10: 1:35 PM ET on NESN

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Red Sox vs. Rays prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for May 7

The Red Sox and Rays open a weekend series tonight at Fenway Park. Tampa Bay takes the field playing as well as anyone in baseball while Boston is looking to build on their recently completed sweep of the Tigers in Detroit.

The Rays arrive in Boston having won 12 of their last 13 and allowing three runs or fewer in all 13, a franchise-record. Their bullpen has been especially sharp, extending a scoreless streak of over 17 innings and giving up just one run in the last 32 innings. With elite pitching, Tampa has not needed too much offense but they are hitting a respectable .254 as a team.

Boston, meanwhile, has shown signs of life since firing manager Alex Cora, going 6–4 over their last ten games including that sweep of Detroit. Rookie starter Jake Bennett gets the ball tonight. It is a small sample size but he has been impressive in limited action, posting a 1.80 ERA. The Red Sox offense came alive in Motown scoring 19 runs over the three games. Because the top of the American League East has been so dominant, though, the Sox still sit 8.5 games behind the Rays and a full nine games back of the first place Yankees. 

Bennett will be opposed tonight by Tampa Bay’s Griffin Jax (1–2, 5.14 ERA). Jax has struggled out of the pen but when starting the proverbial bullpen game he has allowed but two hits and no runs (faced 16 batters). He has yet to pitch three full innings in any capacity this season.

 

Overall, the matchup tilts slightly toward Tampa Bay given their dominant pitching, superior record, and recent form, but Boston’s home-field advantage and improved play make this a more compelling matchup than it might have been ten days ago.

Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.

 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

 

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long. 

Game Details and How to Watch: Red Sox vs. Rays

  • Date: Thursday, May 7, 2026
  • Time: 7PM EST
  • Site: Fenway Park
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: ESPN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out. 

The Latest Odds: Red Sox vs. Rays

The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Boston Red Sox (-115), Tampa Bay Rays (-105)
  • Spread: Red Sox +1.5 (-186), Rays -1.5 (+153)
  • Total: 8.5 runs

 

Probable Starting Pitchers: Red Sox vs. Rays

Pitching matchup for May 7:

  • Red Sox: Jake Bennett
    Season Totals: 5 IP, 1-0, 1.80 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 3K, 2 BB
  • Rays: Griffin Jax
    Season Totals: 14 IP, 1-2, 5.14 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 14K, 9 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Red Sox vs. Rays

  • Trevor Story had his 6-game hitting streak snapped yesterday
  • Willson Contreras is 1-11 over his last 3 games
  • Junior Caminero is 4-18 (.222) in May
  • Chandler Simpson has hit safely in 7 of his last 8 games (9-32)

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top Betting Trends & Insights: Red Sox vs. Rays

  • The Rays are 10-8 on the road this season
  • The Red Sox are 6-10 at home this season
  • The Rays are 23-13 on the Run Line this season
  • The Red Sox are 13-24 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 18 times in Boston games this season (18-18-1)
  • The OVER has cashed 16 times in Rays’ games this season (16-17-3)

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions: Red Sox vs. Rays

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

 

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

 

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

 

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Red Sox and the Rays:

 

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Rays on the Moneyline
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Run Line
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total OVER 8.5 runs

 

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OG Anunoby injury update: Status of Knicks star revealed in report

NEW YORK — OG Anunoby is playing the best basketball of his nine-year career.

Not coincidentally, the New York Knicks are playing their best ball of the season, and at the right time.

Yet, as New York has taken a 2-0 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers in the conference semifinals, Anunoby has been diagnosed with a right hamstring strain and is listed as day to day, per a May 7 social media post by ESPN's Shams Charania.

Anunoby suffered the injury late in New York’s 108-102 Game 2 victory on May 6.

Late in the fourth quarter, Anunoby attempted to cut to the basket when he pulled up and grabbed his right leg, near his hamstring. In the moments that followed, Anunoby remained on the floor and even attempted a dunk when the ball found him down low.

It became clear, however, that Anunoby was hobbled by the injury and limped fairly significantly once he tried to jog to the other side of the court. He asked to be subbed out and left the game with 2:31 to play, replaced by backup guard Miles McBride.

Anunoby did not return to the bench for the remainder of the game.

Anunoby has emerged as a multi-purpose threat for the Knicks in the playoffs and is integral to their title hopes, so the injury is a bit of a setback.

Not only has he been tasked with guarding a premier offensive player — on May 6 he was the primary defender on Paul George — but he has ramped up his effort on rebounding. Anunoby is also a reliable perimeter shooter, the Knicks now must find how to replace him.

OG Anunoby injury: who steps in?

New York could slide Josh Hart, who plays all over the floor, to fill his immediate assignment if Anunoby misses time. That could free up backup guard Miles McBride to start alongside Jalen Brunson in the backcourt.

Given that McBride stepped in for Anunoby in the clutch of a tight game, logic dictates that he would be the first player up. McBride, however, plays a very different game than Anunoby, giving up size and strength.

New York could also deploy some combination of Jose Alvarado, Jordan Clarkson and Landry Shamet to contribute, or spell McBride once he heads to the bench.

“Next man up,” Knicks forward Mikal Bridges said Wednesday night after the game. “That’s really it.”

New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) falls to the court after missing a shot against the Philadelphia 76ers.

OG Anunoby stats

In 67 games this season, Anunoby averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Known for being an excellent two-way player and one of the better wing defenders in the NBA, Anunoby has elevated his play in the postseason; over New York’s last six games (including May 6), he’s averaging 23.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game and has totaled 12 steals and 8 blocks over that span.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What happened to OG Anunoby? Injury update for Knicks vs 76ers

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A's vs Phillies Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The Philadelphia Phillies will try to complete a series sweep as they host the Athletics on Thursday night. 

Philadelphia has been on fire under interim manager Don Mattingly, and my A's vs. Phillies predictions are backing that streak to continue. 

Read on for more analysis of tonight’s matchup in my free MLB picks for Thursday, May 7.

Who will win A's vs Phillies today: Phillies moneyline (-130)

The Philadelphia Phillies are riding a four-game winning streak, outscoring their opponents 23-6 in that span.

FanGraphs still gives the Phillies a 57.6% chance of making the playoffs despite the rough start to the season, a reflection of the talent level on the Philadelphia roster.

Phillies starter Andrew Painter hasn’t yet gotten the results he wants in his rookie season, but he has an elite 36.3% chase rate. His FIP of 3.59 suggests his raw numbers will improve naturally moving forward.

With the Athleticslosing four of five and Philadelphia in form, I like the Phillies to win tonight.

Covers COVERS INTEL: The A’s have a 15.4% pull rate on balls hit in the air against Painter’s arsenal, which ranks 24th in MLB this year.

A's vs Phillies Over/Under pick: Over 9.5 (+100)

Runs haven’t been scarce between these two teams, with Over 9.5 runs per contest across the first two games of the series. Both teams have trended towards the Over lately, which has hit in each of Philadelphia’s last four games, and four of the last five for the A’s.

Athletics starter J.T. Ginn is walking more batters and striking out fewer than at any time in his career, posting a 1.64 strikeout-to-walk ratio on the season. The Phillies offense has averaged 5.0 runs per game under Mattingly, showing dramatic improvement since he took over the team.

With the A’s being no slouches at the plate themselves — they have a .322 wOBA on the year — I’m expecting enough runs to hit the Over.

Ed Scimia's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 6-11, -5.31 units
  • Over/Under bets: 5-10, -5.43 units

A's vs Phillies odds

  • Moneyline: A's +110 | Phillies -130
  • Run line: A's +1.5 | Phillies -1.5
  • Over/Under: Over 9.5 | Under 9.5

A's vs Phillies trend

The Phillies are 5-0 straight-up in their last five home games. Find more MLB betting trends for A's vs. Phillies.

How to watch A's vs Phillies and game info

LocationCitizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
DateThursday, May 7, 2026
First pitch6:40 p.m. ET
TVNBC Sports California, NBC Sports Philadelphia
A's starting pitcherJ.T. Ginn
(0-1, 4.30 ERA)
Phillies starting pitcherAndrew Painter
(1-3, 5.28 ERA)

A's vs Phillies latest injuries

A's vs Phillies weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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3 Flyers Who Have Most to Prove vs. Hurricanes in Crunch Time

The Philadelphia Flyers have managed to score just three goals over the course of their last three playoff games, and if they continue to struggle, they will suffer a swift exit at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Already down 2-0 in the series and dealing with multiple injuries, the Flyers need a group of their stragglers to both up their game and account for their fallen teammates.

Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen leads the Flyers in playoff points so far with five in eight games, while his fellow blueliners, Travis Sanheim and Jamie Drysdale, are two of the team's three total players with multiple goals this postseason.

That might have worked against a mediocre team like the Pittsburgh Penguins, but it certainly won't fly against a Stanley Cup contender like the Hurricanes.

The obvious place to start with these struggles is at wing, where Tyson Foerster, despite playing in all eight playoff games for the Flyers thus far, is stuck in second gear with zero points.

Defenseman Emil Andrae is the only other Flyer without a point, and he's played in just three games averaging 11:06 of ice time. Foerster averages a whopping 18:31.

The reason Foerster has so much to prove, especially right now, is because of how many other options the Flyers have at his position.

Owen Tippett In or Out? Flyers Face Important Lineup DecisionsOwen Tippett In or Out? Flyers Face Important Lineup DecisionsThe Philadelphia Flyers offered injury updates on Owen Tippett and Christian Dvorak.

Alex Bump always looks like such a dynamo with the puck on his stick, and Denver Barkey is quickly becoming a coach's favorite due to his competitiveness, mobility, and positional versatility.

Foerster has one year remaining on his contract at a $3.75 million cap hit and has yet to develop his playmaking and skating, and he has to compete with the likes of Owen Tippett, Matvei Michkov, Porter Martone, Bump, Nikita Grebenkin, Jack Berglund, and more for a spot in the lineup, both now and in the future.

The hallmark of the 24-year-old's game is his shot; Foerster scored 13 times in just 29 games this season and tallied 45 goals over the previous two years.

The playoffs, though, are exposing Foerster's one-dimensionality, and as a young player, he will need to evolve and show the Flyers something before the end of the postseason to re-solidify his future in Philadelphia.

Continuing at the winger position, we have to put Travis Konecny in the spotlight.

The Flyers' highest-paid player with an $8.75 million cap hit, Konecny has just one goal and four points in eight games this playoff run, and notably came up short on a breakaway in overtime in Game 2 that would have otherwise sent the Flyers back to Philadelphia with a series tied at 1-1.

Konecny, 29, has always been in the crosshairs of fans due to his historic playoff struggles, producing just two goals and 12 points in his 30 career postseason games to date.

It's a bit odd, too, considering that Konecny has scored 30 goals twice in his career and has recorded no fewer than 60 points in each of the last four seasons.

Flyers Mock Draft 1.0: Looking for another Lane Hutson?Flyers Mock Draft 1.0: Looking for another Lane Hutson?If they're lucky, the Philadelphia Flyers can get their own Lane Hutson by selecting Xavier Villeneuve in the 2026 NHL Draft.

He, more than anyone, should be a player the Flyers can rely on in crunch time, but he is not the one driving the bus for the team.

Last but certainly not least is Matvei Michkov, whose struggles have been well-documented at this point.

The 21-year-old looked great in overtime in Game 2 and helped produce the game-winning moment in Game 6 against the Penguins, but one point in seven games is objectively not strong enough for a player with his talents.

Noah Cates, Michkov's center for most of the season, is out for the rest of this series against the Hurricanes, so the odds favor Michkov playing on a more offensively-oriented line for the last few games.

The Russian phenom will probably never be a player who creates offense with his own legs, but he always know where to be and when in the offensive zone and constantly seeks open ice and advantageous scoring positions.

With the Flyers dying for offense, now is the time for Michkov to arrive and prove himself.

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Red Wings Defenseman Moritz Seider Snubbed For Norris Trophy

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Fans of the Detroit Red Wings who were used to watching Hall of Fame defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom regularly win the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman will have to wait at least another year for a Red Wings player to capture the award.

The NHL announced on Thursday afternoon that Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, and Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin are this season's finalists for the Norris.

Conspicuously absent from the finalists was Moritz Seider, who not only enjoyed the best season of his NHL career but also posted numbers that were more than worthy of Norris consideration. 

Seider reached career highs in goals (10) and assists (50), along with plus/minus (+15). Additionally, he led all Red Wings skaters in average ice time per game with 25:39, routinely playing in all situations against the opposition's top players. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

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Red Wings' Lucas Raymond Heading To 2026 World Championship Red Wings' Lucas Raymond Heading To 2026 World Championship For the fourth straight year, Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond will represent Sweden in the World Championship.

Seider finished the season as one of the NHL’s leaders in goals against (2.22) per 60 minutes, while the numbers also highlighted just how much the Detroit Red Wings struggled defensively whenever he was off the ice.

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Sixers need to remedy turnover issues to get back into series vs. Knicks

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 6: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks during Round Two Game Two on May 6, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Throughout the first two games of this series the Knicks have been able to slow down the Sixers’ offense in a way they really hadn’t experienced in their first-round series against Boston. On top of the 4-of-19 shooting performance that sunk them in the fourth quarter of Game 2, they’ve really struggled to take care of the basketball.

It’s starts at the very top. After turning it over nine times throughout the entirety of the seven games against the Celtics, Tyrese Maxey has already given it away 10 times in the first two games against New York. VJ Edgecombe has given it away at a rate more expected for a rookie, but his four turnovers in Game 2 were just as costly.

With stops having come at such a premium for the Sixers, they haven’t been able to afford giving away free possessions. The inability to “keep the scoreboard moving,” as Nick Nurse would put it, is what the difference was in Game 2. Live ball turnovers obviously compound the issue, giving the Knicks fast break opportunities. The Sixers conceded 23 points off their 18 turnovers in Game 2.

“They were active… they were blitzing some,” Nurse said after the game. “I think they got their hands on a couple, we made a couple mistakes on inbounds [passes.] That was certainly one negative of the game and then they turn those into points.”

To Nurse’s first point, the Knicks have thrown a lot of ball pressure at Maxey, especially in Game 2 with Joel Embiid sidelined. Maxey attributed New York’s double teams for their ability to turn him over, but also felt like he was trying to go too fast at times.

“They did a good job of kind of taking away certain passes that I like, like to make when I get trapped,” he said, “and then it was a couple times we didn’t just execute our trap offense.”

Maxey also said that he jammed his right pinky at some point in the second quarter, the same finger he sprained back in March, and that impacted his confidence dribbling around and splitting double teams.

With OG Anunoby’s upcoming status suddenly in doubt, those double teams on Maxey aren’t going anywhere. Neither are the immediate pinky concerns either — Maxey confirmed earlier in the playoffs he’ll have to wear a brace on it the rest of the season.

Something the Sixers will have to do away with though is unforced errors. A specific turnover Maxey and Edgecombe both got asked a lot about was an inbounds pass to no one. After a basket and a stop that had them up two, Edgecombe tried to get the ball in quick and to get the ball back with no one guarding him.

None of the other Sixers picked up on this and continued running the play, letting Edgecombe’s pass sail across the court and out of bounds on the other sideline.

“I was trying to run the play, and I just wasn’t looking,” Maxey said. “It happens.”

Miscommunications do happen, but the Sixers can afford them less and less as the stakes get higher. Another series deficit will be impossible to climb out of if they keep shooting themselves in the foot.

“We know we got to cut down on turnovers. That’s not who we are as a team,” Edgecombe said. “We all can protect the ball, pass the ball, so we just got to be more responsible with the ball.”

Now that they’ve played a game in this series without Embiid, they’ve seen how the Knicks will guard Maxey as the primary scoring threat.

“They just want someone else to beat them, regardless of who it is, just not Tyrese,” said Edgecombe. “I’m gonna do my part, create for everyone, and go from there.”

Now that the Sixers have seen how the Knicks will defend both versions of this team, it’s up to them to adjust accordingly.

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76ers veterans appear to have late-game blowup after dubious Game 2 shot

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Two basketball players in white jerseys with red and blue accents, facing each other on the court, Image 2 shows Two basketball players in

The 76ers put up a much more valiant fight in Game 2 against the Knicks, but one of their final shots was not at all ideal in the closing seconds of a game they had a chance to win to tie the conference semifinal series.

With the Knicks up by five points as 30 seconds remained on the clock, Paul George got the look after a dribble handoff from VJ Edgecombe and launched an off-balanced, heavily contested 3-pointer.

It was an airball that eventually led to the 76ers’ 108-102 loss at Madison Square Garden and Quentin Grimes took issue with that in what became a viral moment.

Quentin Grimes confronts Paul George after putting up an airball shot in the closing seconds of their Game 2 loss to the Knicks in the semifinal series on Wednesday night. The Knicks lead 2-0. X @HaterReport

Following the shot, Grimes confronted George about his shot selection when the 76ers had 18 more seconds on the shot clock to find a better look. The nine-time All-Star seemingly defended his decision.

Grimes walked away looking deflated and disappointed at the lost opportunity.

However, George’s shot wasn’t the one thing that sealed the loss for Philadelphia.

The 76ers struggled as a group in the fourth quarter, scoring just 12 points versus the Knicks’ final 19 on the board. They shot just 21.1 percent in the fourth quarter.

They scored at least 28 points in all the previous quarters.

“I thought we just might’ve ran out of gas a little bit in the fourth,” George said after the game. “We could’ve did a better job of getting some easier ones, but I think we did just run out of gas a little bit in the fourth.”

Quentin Grimes slumps in disappointment and frustration after Paul George’s airball shot during the final seconds of Game 2 against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

The 36-year-old finished the night with 19 points, shooting just 5-for-13 from beyond the arc. He also logged six rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks.

Grimes, a fifth-year guard and former Knick, came off the bench to score seven points while adding three rebounds, three assists and one steal.

The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday where the 76ers will try to get their first win of the series.

“We like where we’re at. We played good defense, I thought, all the way until the fourth quarter,” George said. “We just didn’t make shots, but a lot of positives coming out of the game tonight.”

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Royals vs Guardians, May 7 game thread

May 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio (4) misses the tag as Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (9) reaches second base on a double in the fourth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The Royals and Guardians square off in game four of their four-game series this afternoon at 1:10 p.m. at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won the first two games of the series to push their winning streak to five before dropping last night’s game, 3-1.

Of course, the bigger news out of the game was Cole Ragans leaving early due to triceps and elbow soreness/discomfort. Thankfully, it doesn’t sound like anything too serious.

Anne Rogers followed up this morning with a post that Ragans had testing done and is awaiting results. And so we wait with him.

Meanwhile, Seth Lugo takes the ball against a Cleveland team that hasn’t scored much this entire series but could still walk away with a split. In his last outing, Lugo took a no-decision as he went six innings allowing two runs (both earned) with six strikeouts, two walks, and eight hits allowed against the Mariners in a game the Royals won 3-2 in extras. For the second time this season, he tossed over 100 pitches.

For the season, Lugo sports a sterling 2.64 FIP over 43-and-2/3 innings pitched while striking out 37 batters and walking 13. He has, though, allowed more hits-per-nine-innings than at any point during his tenure with the Royals.

The Guardians send to the mound a dude with an absolutely killer first name: Slade Cecconi. And get this—he’s a righty! Whew.

Cecconi pitched well for the Guardians last year but has struggled so far in 2026. In seven starts, he’s sporting a 6.56 ERA with only a slightly lower 5.83 FIP. In his last five outings, he’s surrendered seven home runs, and that includes allow multiple homers in three different starts, against the Braves, Astros, and Athletics. In four of those starts, he’s allowed at least four earned runs.

Here’s Kansas City’s lineup against Cecconi:

Nothing crazy here against the right-hander. Only three right-handed hitters in the lineup, and they’re all within the first four batters. This squad should be able to produce against Cecconi.

Now for Cleveland:

See you after the game!

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Yankees’ Jasson Domínguez leaves game after crashing into left-field wall catching leadoff drive

NEW YORK — Yankees left fielder Jasson Domínguez left the game against Texas in a cart after crashing into the wall while catching Brandon Nimmo’s drive leading off the first inning.

Domínguez, playing outfield for the Yankees for the second time this season, ran 81 feet to catch Nimmo’s 101 mph shot. He gloved the ball 375 feet from the plate as his left shoulder hit hard against the video advertising board.

Domínguez’s sunglasses flew off as he fell to the warning track chest first, prompting centerfielder Trent Grisham to come over as manager Aaron Boone jogged out to check on Domínguez along with head athletic trainer Tim Lentych, assistant athletic trainer Jimmy Downam and director of sports medicine and rehabilitation Michael Schuk.

Domínguez cupped his head in his glove and sat up after about a minute. He pointed to his shoulder and craned his neck as he was being examined, then walked to a cart under his own power and was seated as the cart drove away.

Cody Bellinger moved from right to left, Amed Rosario switched from third base to right and Ryan McMahon entered the game at third.

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Embiid, Anunoby, Hart all listed as questionable for Sixers-Knicks Game 3

Embiid, Anunoby, Hart all listed as questionable for Sixers-Knicks Game 3  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Three important players received questionable designations on the initial injury report for Game 3 of the Sixers vs. Knicks second-round playoff series.

The Sixers listed Joel Embiid (right ankle sprain and right hip soreness) as questionable Thursday night after he sat out the team’s tight Game 2 loss the day prior. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said Embiid “woke up with a bunch of soreness” Wednesday morning and was ruled out following the Sixers’ shootaround at Madison Square Garden.

Embiid returned from an April 9 appendectomy in the middle of the Sixers’ first-round series win over the Celtics and had played through lingering physical issues, but he didn’t get the green light for Game 2. While Embiid had a subpar Game 1 in the Sixers’ blowout defeat, he was strong in the Boston series, averaging 28.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists.

The Knicks’ two questionable players were OG Anunoby (right hamstring strain) and Josh Hart (left thumb sprain). New York also listed backup center Mitchell Robinson as probable. He was sidelined by an illness Wednesday.

Anunoby exited with 2:31 left in the fourth quarter of Game 2 and did not return. He’s had an excellent start to the 2026 playoffs, posting 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. Anunoby has shot 61.9 percent from the field and 53.8 percent from three-point range over New York’s eight postseason contests. 

SNY’s Ian Begley reported Anunoby is considered “day-to-day.” Trailing 2-0 in the series, the Sixers will host Game 3 on Friday night and Game 4 on Sunday afternoon.

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OG Anunoby’s injury status revealed after Knicks’ Game 2 scare

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby #8 after he hits a three-point shot during the third quarter of the Knicks' win over the 76ers on May 6, 2026, Image 2 shows Basketball players on court during a game
Anunoby hurt

The Knicks may have avoided the worst with OG Anunoby’s injury.

The forward, who has been the Knicks’ best player this postseason, is day to day with a right hamstring strain, The Post’s Stefan Bondy reported Thursday.

He is questionable for Friday’s Game 3.

Anunoby came up lame while cutting to the basket with about three minutes left in the Knicks’ 108-102 Game 2 win over the 76ers on Wednesday night.

He labored through one defensive possession before Knicks coach Mike Brown took him out for Miles McBride.

The 28-year-old — always a defensive force — has averaged 21.3 points per game this postseason, while shooting 53.8 percent on 3-pointers.

Anunoby (9) grabbing his lower right leg right before exiting. @BenRitholtzNBA/X

Brown said after the game that he noticed Anunoby “hopping” on the court, but did not have any further details.

McBride is expected to get a majority of the minutes while Anuboby is sidelined.

“He’s one of the best two-way players in the league, and it’s tough to replace that,” McBride said. “You don’t replace it with one guy. Everybody’s going to have to step up.” 

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby #8 after he hits a three-point shot during the third quarter of the Knicks’ win over the 76ers on May 6, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

The Knicks are up 2-0 over the rival 76ers with the series shifting to Philadelphia on Friday night.

They have won five straight dating back to the Hawks series, but may have to continue that momentum without Anunoby.

The teams only have one day of rest between contests through Game 6 before two off days preceding a potential Game 7 next Sunday.

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Knicks vs 76ers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's NBA Playoffs Game 3

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If the Philadelphia 76ers are going to spark a comeback, it starts with finding a way to slow down Jalen Brunson in Game 3.

My Knicks vs. 76ers predictions point to Philly doing just that — or at least keeping him below his elevated scoring line — with my NBA picks backing the Under for this Friday, May 8 showdown.

  • UPDATE: Added prediction for who will win and +1048 SGP.

Knicks vs 76ers Game 3 prediction tonight

Who will win Knicks vs 76ers Game 3?

76ers: The series swings to Philadelphia and home teams down 0-2 seem to find another gear in front of their faithful in Game 3 scenarios. The 76ers could get Joel Embiid back, which gives them a big body in the paint on both ends of the floor.

The Knicks could be without sparkplug OG Anunoby, which is a bigger loss than most realize. He’s been electric for the Knicks in the playoffs and creates scoring outside of the structured offense. Philadelphia leans into its defense and gets one back from New York in Game 3.

Knicks vs 76ers best bet: Jalen Brunson Under 26.5 points (-112)

Following his explosion in Game 1, the Philadelphia 76ers had to figure out a better way to defend Jalen Brunson. 

The Sixers sent longer defenders at him in Game 2, utilizing Kelly Oubre Jr. and VJ Edgecombe, and Brunson finished just 9-for-21 from the field. The bulk of those shots came inside the key, which will be off limits if Joel Embiid returns in Game 3.

With OG Anunoby questionable, the Knicks’ rotation loses offensive punch, and Philadelphia can afford to put even more emphasis on defending Brunson.

Projections for Brunson are good but not great, ranging from 26.6 to just over 24 points on Friday.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Brunson has benefited from some “hometown calls” in the playoffs. He’s averaged 6.6 FTM on 7.8 FTA inside MSG but just 3.33 makes on 3.6 free throws on the road. That holds true for the entire season, averaging 6.1 FTM at home vs. 3.5 FTM on the road.

Knicks vs 76ers Game 3 same-game parlay

The 76ers played with better tempo in Game 2 and traded shots with the Knicks. Philadelphia allowed 56 points in the paint, but getting Embiid back puts an end to those easy looks inside. New York also could be without a significant scorer in Anunoby, leaving them with poor offensive options off the bench.

Paul George came out firing in Game 2 but cooled as the contest played out, still finishing with 19 points in the loss. George has quietly come through for Over bettors on his scoring prop in four of his last five games. He’s forecasted for 17+ points back in Philly on Friday.

Knicks vs 76ers SGP

  • 76ers moneyline
  • Jalen Brunson Under 26.5 points
  • Paul George Over 16.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Philly Cheese Stakes

Philadelphia leaned into its defense to rally in Round 1 and does the same in Game 3 at home. The 76ers keep the Knicks out of the paint, which sees a dip in New York’s shooting success, and ups Tyrese Maxey’s rebounding chances. Paul George has been a consistent contributor in the postseason and is projected for 17+ points.

Knicks vs 76ers SGP

  • 76ers moneyline
  • Under 213.5
  • Paul George Over 16.5 points
  • Tyrese Maxey Over 3.5 rebounds

Knicks vs 76ers odds for Game 3 tonight

  • Spread: Knicks +1 | 76ers -1
  • Moneyline: Knicks -105 | 76ers -115
  • Over/Under: Over 213.5 | Under 213.5

Knicks vs 76ers betting trend to know

The Under is 23-18 with the Philadelphia 76ers coming off a loss this season, including 3-1 in the playoffs so far. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. 76ers.

How to watch Knicks vs 76ers Game 3

LocationXfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
DateFriday, May 8, 2026
Tip-off7:00 p.m. ET
TVPrime Video

Knicks vs 76ers latest injuries

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Cubs' Matthew Boyd has surgery on knee that he injured playing with his kids

CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd had surgery to repair a partial meniscus tear that he suffered in his left knee while playing with his children.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said he expected Boyd to miss about six weeks.

“It’s kind of the minor meniscus surgery so we know he’s going to miss a month, six weeks,” Counsell said ahead of his team’s game against the Cincinnati Reds. “Probably closer to six weeks with getting it ramped back up. That’s what we’re hopeful for. Obviously, we’ll see how it all goes and I think the important thing is how much time do we miss throwing. That’s probably the biggest thing right here. The knee is going to recover pretty quickly, but how much throwing down time do we have to take?”

The left-hander joins starters Cade Horton, Justin Steele and Jordan Wicks on the injured list. Horton (elbow) is out for the season while Steele (elbow) is not expected back until the second half.

Counsell said he had yet to decide how to fill the the scheduled start for Boyd (2-1, 6.00 ERA) at the Texas Rangers. Javier Assad and Ben Brown both are potential options to enter the rotation.

“We’re just trying to think about the innings puzzle moving forward here,” Counsell said. “And then you’re also just trying to consider what’s next. You have to play that game, unfortunately. You always have to play that game: What do we do if something else happens? We just have to make sure we’re covered there. ... I don’t think we have anybody completely stretched out as a starter right now. So that’s what I’m talking about, the puzzle. We’re just going to have to put that together. We’ll just see what we get there on that day and what that means.”

The Cubs recalled reliever Trent Thornton from Triple-A Iowa and made another bullpen swap, recalling Gavin Hollowell and designating Corbin Martin for assignment.

Martin allowed three runs in the ninth inning as the Cubs blew a 4-2 lead before coming back to beat the Reds 7-6 on a walk-off walk in the 10th — their third straight walk-off win, 14th straight win at home and eighth straight overall. Martin had a 10.80 ERA in seven appearances.

Thornton pitched a scoreless 10th to pick up the win in his debut with the Cubs.

Hollowell, 28, had a 2.25 ERA in six appearances at Iowa.

The Cubs close out a four-game series with the Reds, with Shota Imanaga (3-2, 2.40) facing Rhett Lowder (3-2, 5.09).

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The Summer stretch could be very exciting for the 2026 Braves

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 04: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates his solo home run with Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 04, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images

So, it’s May 7 and it’s the day after the Atlanta Braves finally lost their first series of the season. Getting that deep into the season without dropping a season is simply fantastic. I’ve always maintained that you shouldn’t start taking the standings seriously until around Memorial Day but in this case, it’s extremely hard not to take a look at things and get excited about what may lay ahead for the Braves.

As of right now, they’re 8.5 games ahead of both the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies and they’re 11 games clear of the New York Mets already, as well. Getting that much of a gap early on against Philadelphia and New York is huge since those two alongside Atlanta figured to be the real contenders for winning the NL East crown this year and also fighting for any potential postseason spot as well. Assuming there isn’t a complete and total reversal of fortunes in the very near future, the Braves should be going into Memorial Day with a comfortable buffer as they head into the Summer stretch of the season.

So what does it mean? Clearly it’s good, as the chatter about the Braves potentially having the NL East title wrapped up already is beginning to start. It’s certainly premature as there’s still over 120 games left to be played in this season and anything can happen in the span of 30 games — much less 30 multiplied by four.

Still, the early signs are certainly encouraging and indicative of a team that didn’t just get hot early — this team might be here to stay for the whole season.

  • The Braves currently have a run differential of +79 and an Expected Win/Loss and Pythagorean W-L record record of 27-11. Nobody else in the NL East has a positive run differential and everybody else is still under .500. Plus, the Phillies are actually overperforming their current record of 17-20 by two games, according to X-W/L.
  • The venue hasn’t mattered. Atlanta’s 12-6 at home and 14-6 on the road, which is certainly a positive sign in its own right.
  • The projection models also think that the Braves are for real. PECOTA has given them a 96 percent chance of making the Postseason with a 77 percent shot at winning the division. Baseball-Reference has Atlanta at 93 percent to make the playoffs with an 97 percent shot to take the divisional crown. FanGraphs has the Braves at an 81 percent chance of getting back on top of the NL East with a 95 percent shot of making the Postseason. Again, this is all dynamic based on how the team is playing but as long as there isn’t some sort of ridiculous drop-off, this is a very, very nice place to be in at the moment.
  • As Dan Szymborski’s ZiPS projection model indicated in the linked article above, this isn’t as if it’s a case of a lot of players doing stuff that’s unsustainable. While the pitching might be punching a bit above its weight at the moment, a lot of the contributions that they’ve been getting from the guys at the plate appear to be for real and in line with what’s on the back of their respective baseball cards, so to speak.

    From Szymborki’s article:

Of all major league hitters currently projected to get plate appearances over the rest of the season, the Braves have nine of the top 100 [hitters], more than you would expect from random chance. Only three players — Austin Riley, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Mike Yastrzemski — have taken big hits, but they are still projected to be real contributors, though I’m a bit worried about Riley personally.

  • It’s still relatively early but Matt Olson appears primed to break his pattern of having a great season in odd years and a relatively disappointing season in even years. He will shortly clear his 2024 season in terms of fWAR production (he’s already at 2.3 fWAR through 38 games — he produced 2.6 throughout the entirety of the 2024 season!) and if he keeps this up, he will also clear what he did in 2022 (3.1 fWAR) as well. If this ends up being at or near a career year for Olson, that would be huge for the Braves. In fact, his 2026 Statcast metrics look very, very similar (and slightly better) to what he did during that amazing 2023 season of his. Watch out!
  • It also helps that Ozzie Albies is on track for his best season since 2023 (he’s already cleared his fWAR production in 2026 (1.6 so far) for both the past two seasons (1.3 each), Drake Baldwin appears to be on track for establishing himself as an elite-hitting catcher in baseball and the changes that Michael Harris II made in the second half of his topsy-turvy 2025 season appear to have stuck around as well. Maurico Dubón’s plate production has also been a very pleasant surprise.
  • As mentioned above, the Braves have gotten this far with Austin Riley being mediocre at best, Ronald Acuña Jr. performing below his superstar standards, missing Sean Murphy for all but three games and still not having Ha-Seong Kim play a single game. There’s a decent chance that we still haven’t seen the Braves lineup perform at full-strength, which is a frightening thought for the rest of baseball.
  • We’re starting to see the pitching fall off but Bryce Elder being for real is a major bonus. JR Ritchie potentially being a regular productive contributor would be huge as well. Walt Weiss’s management of the pitching staff going forward is going to be crucial when it comes to determining just how successful this team can be going forward.

So basically, there’s a lot to love about how this season has started for the Atlanta Braves. I think we’re all smart enough to realize that the division ain’t over yet — not while the Phillies are attempting to ride this “new manager bounce” until the wheels fall off. There’s a lot of time between now and October but with what they’ve done already, the Braves are in a very good position to make sure that they will be playing once October rolls around. The standards are high around here and it appears that the team is back to meeting those standards, so far.